My boxer boy Zeus watched his best buddy Dan, the 10 mo. black lab puppy across the street, get hit in front of our house tonight. My husband saw the whole thing.
(to skip the "backstory" scroll down to the ***)
Zeus and Dan often cross the street to play with one another. Zeus is quite good about staying in our yard...unless Dan is out. Even then, it is usually Dan that comes over to our yard. I always take Dan back home and do not let them play together unless they are escorted across the street to one or the others' house. Dan's owners have done the same for me on that rare occasion that Zeus is so overwhelmed with Boxer Joy that he can't help but run and play.
One recent Saturday morning while feeling a little frisky, and with no sign of Dan I might add, Zeus ran over to their open front door. Zeus stood on the doorstep until Dan's owners looked up from their breakfast, and called out..."Dan! Zeus is here to play!" Of course I was upset that Zeus had crossed the street, but I couldn't help laughing...it was the cutest darned thing! As if he were a child going to ask if his best buddy could come out and play.
Of course we've been working with the dogs on the "stay-out-of-the-street" thing. Mainly because it's what "good" parents are "supposed to do." Honestly, we live about 3/4 of the way down a cul-de-sac, so it's not like people drive 50mph down our street. We learned tonight that 25-35 is enough to kill.
Zeus headed out to help my husband with some front yard work (Zeus "waters" the plants for us
while I stayed inside. Simultaneously, Dan was getting ready to get in his Jeep for a trip to the park. I overheard my husband and Dan's owner chatting across the street with one another. Apparently Dan had come over for a visit. Both my sweeties were so well behaved! My husband refused to let them play, and scolded Dan for crossing the street. Zeus stayed in the yard while Dan was returned to his yard, moments away from leaving for the park.
I remember hearing my hunny tell Dan's owner how much he liked it when the two played together...they really wore eachother out!
It couldn't have been more than a minute before I heard it. That sound. I will never forget the sound. "DAN! NO!"...and the unmistakeable sound of an animal vs. bumper. I heard everything through the thin walls of the open garage door.
I knew it wasn't my Zeus. Thank GOD it wasn't my precious Zeus!
I ran outside to see Zeus standing on the lawn, watching his best buddy yelp in agony as he lay in the street. The next few minutes were a whirl-wind. Throwing Zeus inside. Running to the house two doors down from Dan...to Scott's house...Dr. Scott's house...the veterinarian. No answer. Running back four houses down, back across the street to another neighbor's house...Mark's house...he would have Dr. Scott's cell phone number. Mark is HOME! Bad news...Dr. Scott is on vacation for two weeks. I hear Dan's owner say "he's a gone-er" Other neighbors try the local vet hospitals. 8:15pm all closed...All referring to the 24 hour emergency clinic an hour away. Then I got it! I remembered a magazine article months ago about a local pet ambulance. I ran inside to the magazine bin/Zeus' toy bin and pull out the magazine...UNBELIEVEABLE! I kept the magazine, AND knew exactly where it was in an emergency! I find the article...find the number...call...give the details as if I had dialed 9-1-1..."Hello, there's been an accident"...give the address...details of the dog and injuries..."come quickly!"
More bad news...it would be 30-40 minutes before they can get here, then they'll be taking Dan to the same place...an hour away...she advises that Dan might get treatment quicker to take him oursleves.
My wonderful husband, after witnessing this horrible accident, gets the dog on a make-shift gurney, loads Dan and his two completely distraught owners into their car, and DRIVES the three of them to the vet hospital. I stay behind to handle the logistics, call the vet hospital, lock up the neighbor's house for them, and to see if I can find anything/anyone closer to help!
In all the madness, I didn't even bother to find out who had hit Dan! I remember seeing a truck parked on the side of the road about 30 feet in front of Dan. A guy saying "I didn't see him" [the dog] "I didn't see him" over and over again.
Now that Dan was on his way to medical assistance, I could turn my attention to who had...who had...
...hit him. I looked up at the driveway between Dan's house and the vacationing Dr. Scott's house. To my shock and horror, I saw the truck. The truck that hit Dan was his next door neighbor!
I'm sure that it wasn't his fault. He couldn't have been going very fast, for his driveway was fifty feet from where Dan was struck. I heard later that he didn't hit the brakes until he heard people yelling. He really didn't see Dan at all.
Several neighbors, including the poor man that hit him, asked to be informed of Dan's status regardless of how late the hour.
I got the call, they had made it to the hospital, but didn't know the status yet. Since everything was handled here, I headed for the door to relieve my husband. I knew it would be a long night, so I would bring him his truck, send him home, and I would stay with Dan and his owners at the vet hospital.
Should I take Zeus in the car with me? I didn't want to leave him alone after all this.
I looked at Zeus. My beloved Zeus. Zeus? ZEUS! He wasn't moving. Did I miss something? Was Zeus hit too? Why wasn't he moving?!?! A moment of panic set in...until I realized...Zeus was physically ok, but I think he knew something I didn't.
***The phone rang as Zeus finally lumbered to his feet. No need to come to the hospital. Dan had passed away.
I dropped my keys and purse, fell to my knees and embraced Zeus.
This is so UNBELIEVEABLE! What a nightmare! How do I console the neighbors in their loss? How do I not feel their pain everytime my dog is out in front of the house? What do I say to them? How do I make the pain a little easier for them? Or for my husband who was there for the entire process? From watching the accident to cremation options at the hospital?
Thank you in advance for all your support and advice...
Sincerely,
Jen
(Zeus' Mom)
(to skip the "backstory" scroll down to the ***)
Zeus and Dan often cross the street to play with one another. Zeus is quite good about staying in our yard...unless Dan is out. Even then, it is usually Dan that comes over to our yard. I always take Dan back home and do not let them play together unless they are escorted across the street to one or the others' house. Dan's owners have done the same for me on that rare occasion that Zeus is so overwhelmed with Boxer Joy that he can't help but run and play.
One recent Saturday morning while feeling a little frisky, and with no sign of Dan I might add, Zeus ran over to their open front door. Zeus stood on the doorstep until Dan's owners looked up from their breakfast, and called out..."Dan! Zeus is here to play!" Of course I was upset that Zeus had crossed the street, but I couldn't help laughing...it was the cutest darned thing! As if he were a child going to ask if his best buddy could come out and play.
Of course we've been working with the dogs on the "stay-out-of-the-street" thing. Mainly because it's what "good" parents are "supposed to do." Honestly, we live about 3/4 of the way down a cul-de-sac, so it's not like people drive 50mph down our street. We learned tonight that 25-35 is enough to kill.
Zeus headed out to help my husband with some front yard work (Zeus "waters" the plants for us
while I stayed inside. Simultaneously, Dan was getting ready to get in his Jeep for a trip to the park. I overheard my husband and Dan's owner chatting across the street with one another. Apparently Dan had come over for a visit. Both my sweeties were so well behaved! My husband refused to let them play, and scolded Dan for crossing the street. Zeus stayed in the yard while Dan was returned to his yard, moments away from leaving for the park.I remember hearing my hunny tell Dan's owner how much he liked it when the two played together...they really wore eachother out!
It couldn't have been more than a minute before I heard it. That sound. I will never forget the sound. "DAN! NO!"...and the unmistakeable sound of an animal vs. bumper. I heard everything through the thin walls of the open garage door.
I knew it wasn't my Zeus. Thank GOD it wasn't my precious Zeus!
I ran outside to see Zeus standing on the lawn, watching his best buddy yelp in agony as he lay in the street. The next few minutes were a whirl-wind. Throwing Zeus inside. Running to the house two doors down from Dan...to Scott's house...Dr. Scott's house...the veterinarian. No answer. Running back four houses down, back across the street to another neighbor's house...Mark's house...he would have Dr. Scott's cell phone number. Mark is HOME! Bad news...Dr. Scott is on vacation for two weeks. I hear Dan's owner say "he's a gone-er" Other neighbors try the local vet hospitals. 8:15pm all closed...All referring to the 24 hour emergency clinic an hour away. Then I got it! I remembered a magazine article months ago about a local pet ambulance. I ran inside to the magazine bin/Zeus' toy bin and pull out the magazine...UNBELIEVEABLE! I kept the magazine, AND knew exactly where it was in an emergency! I find the article...find the number...call...give the details as if I had dialed 9-1-1..."Hello, there's been an accident"...give the address...details of the dog and injuries..."come quickly!"
More bad news...it would be 30-40 minutes before they can get here, then they'll be taking Dan to the same place...an hour away...she advises that Dan might get treatment quicker to take him oursleves.
My wonderful husband, after witnessing this horrible accident, gets the dog on a make-shift gurney, loads Dan and his two completely distraught owners into their car, and DRIVES the three of them to the vet hospital. I stay behind to handle the logistics, call the vet hospital, lock up the neighbor's house for them, and to see if I can find anything/anyone closer to help!
In all the madness, I didn't even bother to find out who had hit Dan! I remember seeing a truck parked on the side of the road about 30 feet in front of Dan. A guy saying "I didn't see him" [the dog] "I didn't see him" over and over again.
Now that Dan was on his way to medical assistance, I could turn my attention to who had...who had...
...hit him. I looked up at the driveway between Dan's house and the vacationing Dr. Scott's house. To my shock and horror, I saw the truck. The truck that hit Dan was his next door neighbor!
I'm sure that it wasn't his fault. He couldn't have been going very fast, for his driveway was fifty feet from where Dan was struck. I heard later that he didn't hit the brakes until he heard people yelling. He really didn't see Dan at all.
Several neighbors, including the poor man that hit him, asked to be informed of Dan's status regardless of how late the hour.
I got the call, they had made it to the hospital, but didn't know the status yet. Since everything was handled here, I headed for the door to relieve my husband. I knew it would be a long night, so I would bring him his truck, send him home, and I would stay with Dan and his owners at the vet hospital.
Should I take Zeus in the car with me? I didn't want to leave him alone after all this.
I looked at Zeus. My beloved Zeus. Zeus? ZEUS! He wasn't moving. Did I miss something? Was Zeus hit too? Why wasn't he moving?!?! A moment of panic set in...until I realized...Zeus was physically ok, but I think he knew something I didn't.
***The phone rang as Zeus finally lumbered to his feet. No need to come to the hospital. Dan had passed away.
I dropped my keys and purse, fell to my knees and embraced Zeus.
This is so UNBELIEVEABLE! What a nightmare! How do I console the neighbors in their loss? How do I not feel their pain everytime my dog is out in front of the house? What do I say to them? How do I make the pain a little easier for them? Or for my husband who was there for the entire process? From watching the accident to cremation options at the hospital?
Thank you in advance for all your support and advice...
Sincerely,
Jen
(Zeus' Mom)
